Tilt truck



Sept. 8, 1959 R. M INGHAM, JR

TILT TRUCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 1, 1955 ll lfurrl INVENTOR. ROBERT M. INGHAM,JR.

Wzlfi fM ATTORNEY Spt. 8, 1959 R. M. lNGHAM, JR

TILT TRUCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 1, 1955 FIG. '3-

FIG. -5-

INVENTOR.

ROBERT M. INGHAM,JR. BY W22 KW ATTORNEY Sept. 8, 1959 R. M. INGHAM, JR 2,903,219

TILT TRUCK Filed Sept. 1, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

ROBERT M. |NGHAM,JR.-

WMMM ATTORNEY United States Patent TILT TRUCK Robert M. Ingham, Jr., Spartanburg, S.C., assignor to Deering Milliken Research Corporation, Pendleton, S.C., a corporation of Delaware Application September 1, 1955, Serial No. 531,893

14 Claims. (Cl. 248137) This invention relates to supports generally, and more particularly to removable pivotal supports.

Specifically, the present embodiment of the invention is directed to an object supporting structure, particularly a container supporting truck, having provisions for positively guiding complementary pivotal connecting elements into alignment and wherein the guide surface together with an adjacent spaced apart aperture formed on or in the side of the object serve as bearing surfaces while a pair of resiliently biased substantially concentric pins movable relative to each other serve as load bearing elements for complementary engagement with the bearing surfaces on the object, in such a manner that the object load is dis stributed over both pins rather than one and thus less biasing force is required to force the inner of the two pins into the aperture than with the use of a single larger biased pin taking all of the load alone.

In many arts, such as particularly the textile art, it is necessary to transport various objects, such as bobbins, from one place to another in a box or other container and to empty the container at one or more points. Often, as for instance in the case of doif boxes such as are used in the textile arts, it is desirable to make the container detachable from the support in order to permit easy storage and other handling such as filling, of the container during times other than transporting and discharging.

- It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a support apparatus such that a container supported in accordance therewith may be quickly and easily attached for transport and/or pouring up into the troughs of a spooler, or otherwise emptied, and may be readily detached, as desired.

A further object is the provision of a pivotal object support which is readily attachable and detachable.

Another object is to provide an object, particularly a container, supporting apparatus wherein guides are provided on the object which cooperate with complementary supporting elements to positively guide the object into secured pivotal support position, and which also serve the dual purpose of serving as a load transmittingbearing element in the secured pivotal position.

Still another object is to provide a detachable biasedly engaging pivotal supporting apparatus for heavy objects, such as containers, in which a pair of relatively movable load bearingelements share the load at at least one of the supporting points, thereby reducing the amount of bias necessary for positive engagement of the load bearing elements with complementary elements on thecon: tainer.

, Still another object is to provide 'a detachably engageable pivotal supporting arrangement in which a pair of relatively movable concentric load bearing elements are arranged whereby one load bearing element bears the load when the load is in one position and the other element bears the load when the load is in a pivotally moved position. 7

-Another object is the provision of detachably engage- ICC able pivotal supporting arrangement in which a pair of pivotally moved position, thus necessitating only a small engagement bias on the inner bearing element.

A further object is to provide a vehicle having a biased pivot engaging arrangement for pivotally supporting a container wherein a container load is borne substantially by one supporting element in one pivotal position and by another element in another pivotally moved position. i

A still further object is the provision of a novel tilt truck having a pivotally movable dofr' box detachably mounted in a novel and facile manner.

Still other objects and many attendant advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of one preferred physical embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective View of a dolf box tilt truck with a pivotal dofr box according to the invention, in which the doff box is partially broken away for clarity of illustration.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the dotf box as viewed from adjacent one end thereof.

Figure 3 is a partial section View along the line III- III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a partial section view along the line IV-- IV of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a partial end view of the doff box, showing the pivotal engaging section.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, a tilt truck, generally indicated at 10, cooperatively supports for pivotal movement a doif box 30, in a novel manner such that the doff box 30 may be quickly and easily hoisted into and out of pivotally supporting engagement with the tilt truck 10.

The tilt truck 10 comprises essentially a pair of upright A-frames 12 and 14 secured in any suitable manner, as by welding, to a rectangular base 16, of suitable length to accommodate the dofi box 30 between the upright A-frames 12 and 14. The base 16, and A-frame members 12 and 14 may advantageously be constructed of standard angle bar and channel bar stock, as shown, or otherwise as desired, to provide suitable strength for sup porting the doll box 30. The A-frames 12 and 14 are suitably braced as by longitudinal braces 18 and 20 se cured between the corresponding legs thereof. The braces 18 and 20 are secured at a height such that they are located well below the bottom of the dofi box 30 when it is in pivotally suspended position, thus permitting free and unrestricted pivotal movement of the box as desired, while providing an auxiliary temporary support for the box, should such be desired.

Ready and easy mobility is achieved for the tilt truck through four casters 22 mounted on the bottom of the base 16.

The dofi" box is detachably supported in a facile manner for pivotal'movement on two pairs of relatively movable concentric pins or studs 40, 42 and 60, 62 mounted near the apex of the respective A-frames 12 and 14, and which engage respectively with a complementary hole 32 and shoulder 34 formed on one end of the box 30 and a corresponding similar hole and shoulder formed on the opposite end of box 30.

Referring to Figure 3, a bushing block 44, secured to the A-frame 12 near the apex thereof in any suitable manner, as by welding, carries a sleeve bushing 46 with in which slidably fits pin 42. Pin 42 is hollow throughout its length, and has an internal sleeve bushing 48 within which is slidably mounted inner concentric pin 40. The pin 40 is biased inwardly relative to pin 42 by a compression spring 50, abuttingat one end a shoulder 41 formed on the inner pin 40, and at its other end abutting a capped end collar 51 fitted about the outer end of pin 42 and held 'in place thereon as by a set screw 52'. "Movement of the pin 40 within pin 42 and bushing 48 is limited outwardly by an axially adjustable collar 53 'at its outer end, which is secured thereon by aset screw 54, and inwardly by a shoulder 59 formed by the enlarged tip 55 on its inner end which engages at extreme inward movement with a shouldered abutment 56 formed on the interior of the hollow pin 42.

' The outer pin 42 is adjustably fixed in the bushing block 44 and held against axially outer movement (i.e. away from the box 30) by an adjustable collar 57 hava set screw 58, and which abuts the inner face of block 44. Substantially the only axial force externally exerted against the pin 42 will be applied in an axially outer direction by the box 30 during mounting and detach-ing thereof, and thus it will be apparent that setting of the collar 57 at any particular axial position on the pin 42 will determine the pins axial position for all practical purposes. It will be noted also, that the normal extended position of inner pin 40 relative to outer pin 42 is constant for any setting of collar 53 irrespective of the setting of collar 57.

As seen particularly in Figure 4, the oposite A-frame 14 also has mounted in coalignment with the bushing block 44 and pins 40, 42, a second bushing block 64 which supports the other pair of coaligned concentric pins 60 and 62. Pin 62 is slidably supported in a sleeve bushing 66 mounted in block 64 and pin 60 is likewise slidably mounted for free sliding movement over a restricted distance in a sleeve bushing 68 within hollow pin 62 similarly to the previously described pins 40 and 42. However, the action or movement of these pins differs somewhat from that of the pins 40 and 42, in that the outer pin 62 is resiliently biased inwardly for restricted axial movement within the sleeve bushing 66. To this end, a fru'stro-conical shaped coil spring 70 is provided which abuts an annular flange 72 on pin 62 at one end and the inner face of the A-frame 14 at its other end.

' Outward movement of the pin 62 away from the doff box is restricted by the flange 72 while inward movement under the influence of spring 70 is limited by engagement of internal abutment 80 with the shoulder 79 formed by the enlarged tip 78' on the inner end of pin 60 and by contact between a collar 74 fitted onto the outer end of inner pin 60, and held in place as by a nut 76 threadedly'enga-ging a complementary threaded end portion of pin 60. The normal extended length of spring 70 is such that when collar 74 is in contact with the back side of block 64, and pin 60 is thus at its innermost position, the spring 70 will press the outer pin 62 to a position such that its inner shouldered abutment 80 is resiliently biased into contact with shoulder 79 on pin 60.

A handle 82 is provided for manually moving the pins 6 0 and 62 to their outermost positions, whereat flange 72 is closely adjacent the inner face of block 64 T 0 this endythe handle 82 is pivotally attached as by a pivot pin 84 mounted in a suitable support 86 at a point on the A-frame above the bushing block 14 and supporting pins 60, 62. The handle 82 thus forms a lever which engages the pin 60 through a slot 88 formed in the handle 82 and a cross pin 90 extending through a collar 74 and pin 60. Itwill be apparent that the weight of the handle 82 will exert some inwardly axial force on pin 60 through the weight moment exerted about pivot pin 84; however, I find it advantageous to provide a tension spring 92 between the handle 82 and the A-frame 14 to insure that pin 60 will be pressed toward its innermost position when pin 62 is held back due to external pressure on the nner en h reof. This ensures positive resili nt in et.-

.4 tion of the pin 60 into the hole 32 of doff box 30, as will be hereinafter described in more detail.

As stated supra, the doif box 30 is pivotally supported at opposite ends 36 and 38 thereof by the engagement of pins 40, 42 and 60, 62 with the corresponding complementary hold 32 and arcuate shoulder 34 of the respective ends 36 and 38 of the box, The doff box in the illustrative embodiment is of closed bottom, open top construction. At each end 36 and 38 angle bars 31 and 33 are secured and are particularly arranged to form an inverted V shaped guide surface .to guide the pins into locked pivotal engaging position with arcuate shoulder 34 and hole 32. Additionally, these angle bars serve as structural braces for the box. The internal arcuate radius of each of the shoulders 34 preferably corresponds substantially to the external radius of the corresponding complementary outer pin 42 at one end and 62 at the other end, while the effective inner diameter of each of the holes 32, which may suitably be reinforced through use of a short metal or other bearing tube 32a, is slightly larger than the diameter of the enlarged complementary tip, 55 and 78, of the corresponding inner pins 40 and 60, thus providing a small amount of clearance between the circumferential surface of the tips 55, 78 and the inner circumferential surface of the holes 32, i.e. the inner surface of tube 32a in the instant example when the doffbox' is vertical, and the outer pins 62 and 42 engage the arcuate shoulders 34 in load supporting relation. The flange 72 on outer pin 62 is at a distance from the end of the pin corresponding to the axial thickness of the shoulder 34, and thus rests against the shoulder when pins 60 and 62 are in locked position with the shoulder 34 and hole 32.

In order to facilitate handling of the doff box 30, each end .36 and 38 is provided with a handle, which may conventionally be a reinforced hole 96 near the top of eachend.

In operation, a doff box 30 full of bobbins or other desired objects or material, is lifted, as through the use of toggle grip tongs or arms which may conveniently be inserted into handle holes 96, and moved to a position above the truck 10, and is positioned with the ends of the box 30 being between and adjacent the two upright A-frames. The handle 82 is lifted upwardly and outwardly to retract the pins 60 and 62, and the box is placed between these pins and opposing pins 40 and 42. The handle 82 may then be released, whereupon springs 92 and bias the pins 60 and 62 into engagement with the end 38 of the doif box 30. The spring force exerted by springs 92 and 70 exceeds that of biasing spring 59 for pin 40, and thus pin 40 is pressed into retracted position with its inward face, as well as the inward face of pin 42, being held in contact with the end 36 of the doff box 30.

The doif box may then be lowered, with guide bars 31 and 33, in cooperation with the outer pins 42 and 62, guiding the box down to the position where pins 42 and '62 engage the inner arcuate surface of their respective arcuate shoulders 34. At this point the previously restrained spring forces on inner pins 40 and 60 will bias them into their respective holes 32, and thus a secure pivotal mounting is achieved. With such a construction 7 it will be apparent that, due to the substantial absence of any frictional resistance to axial inner movement of pins 40 and 60, other than the minor amount incurred in the sleeve bearings 48 and 68, much less spring force is needed to force the pins 40 and 60 into the holes 32 than would be required with the use of a single pin at each side, and in many cases when the box and/or its contents are of 'considerable weight, the frictional resistance to insertion of the pin in its hole due to this con- .sid-erable weight would necessitate an excessively large 7 spring force. With the instant invention, on the other hand, a relatively small pin inserting force is necessary due to the sharing of the load by the two concentric pins during extended pivotal movement of the 'doifbox, in the instant example two pins on each side, andthu's relatively light biasing springs may be used. In other words, as pointed out above, the inner pivot pins 40 and 60 do not substantially touch the inside of the tubes 32a, in which they are inserted, while the doif box is in substantially upright position. The load thus continues to be held by the outer pivot pins 42 and 62 until the box is tilted, and the outer pins 42 and 62 then release the load to the inner pins 40 and 60 and their associated tubes 32a in the holes 32 with which they then come into engagement.

After mounting on the pivot pins, the tilt truck, including the dofr box may then be moved to any desired place for emptying of the box. In order to insure suitable stability for the box while in the pivotally mounted position, the holes 32 are preferably positioned slightly above the center of gravity of the doif box 30. To empty the dofi box 30 it is only necessary to tilt the box on its pivotal axis, defined by the coaligned center lines of pins 40, 42 and 60, 62 and permit the bobbins or other material therein to fall out under force of gravity.

The doif box 39 may then be easily removed 'by releasing pins 60 and 62 through pulling out on handle 82, and either lowering the box to temporarily sit on the bed formed by longitudinal braces 18 and 20, or by suitably lifting it out by the handle holes 96 as desired.'

It will thus be apparent from the foregoing description of one physical embodiment of my invention that I have provided a novel and advantageous tilt truck including a pivotal mounting arrangement which permits the use of relatively light springs on both the inner and outer movable pivots. If only a single pivot were used at each end of the box the springs, or other resilient biasing means, would have to be strong enough to overc-omefrictional resistance resulting from the entire weight of the doff box or container and the load, when the load was released from the hoist. Such a spring or springs would quickly deform the cleft boxes or other containers unless elaborate internal bracing were provided to strengthen them. Obviously, this would be costly and wasteful of space, whereas the present invention is simple, easy of application, inexpensive, and provides rapid and sure mounting and dismounting with light biasing springs and only normal strength requirements for the doif box.

While I have shown, and find it of much greater advantage to use, a clearance between the hole 32 and the effective outer surface of the inner pin, or pins as the case may be, it is within the scope of my generic invention to provide actual engagement between the inner pin or pins and the inner circumferential surface of the holes during or at the end of insertion thereof, with only sufficient difference in diameter therebetween to permit relatively easy insertion, and thus the load would thereby be shared by both inner and outer pins in the upright position of the doff box, and supported by the inner pins alone after substantial pivotal movement of the deli box. Obviously, however, this is not as advantageous as the preferred and illustrated embodiment since a much stronger spring or other biasing means would be required to effect insertion of the inner pins into their respective holes 32, thus having at least partial disadvantages mentioned supra.

Obviously, numerous modifications within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the foregoing description of one illustrative physical embodiment thereof, and I do not intend to be limited in the scope thereof except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination an object to be pivotally supported, said object having aligned holes extending into two opposite sides thereof, a pair of supporting shoulder members formed on said object each adjacent respectively one of said holes and spaced therefrom, means for supporting said object, a first pair of independently movable concentric supporting pins mounted on said support means, a second pair of independently movable concentric supporting pins aligned with said first pair of pins and mounted on said support means, the circumferentially outer surface of each of the outer of said pins being removably engaged with a respective shoulder members and the inner of said pins being removably disposed in said holes.

2. In combination an object to be pivotally supported, said object having aligned holes extending into two opposite sides thereof, a pair of supporting shoulders formed on said object each adjacent respectively one of said holes and normally spaced thereabove, a support frame, a first pair of independently movable concentric pins mounted on said support frame, a second pair of independently movable concentric pins aligned with said first pair of pins, the circumferentially outer surface of each of the outer of said pins being removably engaged with a respective shoulder and the inner of said pins being removably disposed in said holes, means supporting said pins, and means for resiliently biasing each of said first pair of pins inwardly toward said object.

3. In combination an object to be pivotally supported, said object having an aperture formed on one side thereof, a supporting shoulder formed on said object adjacent to and spaced from said aperture, a pair of independently movable concentric pins, the outer of said pins being removably engaged at its circumferentially outer surface with said shoulder, the inner of said pins being removably disposed in said aperture, and means for supporting said pins and for pivotally supporting the other side of said object.

4. In combination an object to be pivotally supported, said object having an aperture formed on one side thereof, a supporting shoulder formed on said object adjacent to and spaced from said aperture, a pair of independently movable concentric pins, the outer of said pins being removably engaged at its circumferentially outer surface with said shoulder, the inner of said pins being movable into said aperture, and means for supporting said pins and for pivotally supporting the other side of said object, said pins being each spring biased toward said object.

5. In combination an object to be pivotally supported, said object having aligned holes extending into two opposite sides thereof, a pair of supporting shoulders formed on said object each adjacent respectively one of said holes and spaced therefrom, a first pair of independently movable concentric pins, a second pair of independently movable concentric pins aligned with said first pair of pins, the circumferentially outer surface of each of the outer of said pins being engageable with a respective shoulder and the inner of said pins being insertable into said holes, and a pair of upwardly converging guide surfaces formed on and extending from each of said opposite sides of said gbject and converging with a respective one of said shoulers.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein each of said shoulders is arcuate and extends axially outwardly of and above said hole, each said shoulder having an internal radius of curvature substantially corresponding to the external radius of curvature of its respective said outer pin, the axial center of each said arcuate shoulder being at least as low as the center of its respective said hole, the distance from the center of each said hole to the radially inner surface of the respective said shoulder lying directly above said center being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the respective said outer pin.

7. In combination a container to be pivotally supported, said container having aligned holes extending into two opposite sides thereof, a pair of supporting shoulders having radially inwardly facing surfaces formed on said container each adjacent respectively one of said holes and radially spaced therefrom, a first pair of independently movable concentric pins, a second pair of independently movable concentric pins axially aligned with said first pair of pins, means for supporting said pins, the circumferentially outer surface of each of the outer of said pins being engageable with the radially inner surface of its said respective shoulder and the inner of said pins being engageable into said holes, a pair of pin engaging guides formed on each of said sides of said container adjacent to and extending in divergent relation from a respective said shoulder, the radially inner surface of each of said shoulders being substantially arcuate over its pin engaging portion, the shoulder thereby serving the dual function of pin engaging guide in cooperation with said dia vergent guides and also of support for said container.

8. A pivotal support comprising first and second axially spaced apart pairs of concentric pins, means for supporting at least one of said pairs of pins for slidable movement toward and away from the other of said pairs of pins, Said slidable pins being slidably movable relative to each other along a line toward and away from the other said pair of pins, and two springs, each of said springs engaging and resiliently biasing a respective one each of said pins of said relatively movable pair of pins toward the other said pair of pins.

9. A support according to claim 8 wherein one of said relatively movable pins has a lip formed thereon engageable with the other of said relatively movable pins upon the retracting movement of said one of said movable pins to thereby cause corresponding retracting movement of the other said relatively movable pin over a portion of the length of travel of said one pin.

10. A pivotal support comprising two spaced apart pairs of co-aligned pins, means for supporting said pins, all of said pins being freely axially slidably movable relative to each other in either direction along a line passing 8 through said pairs of pins, and resilient biasing means operatively connected to each of the pins of at least one of said pairs of pins tending to cause resilient relative movement of said pins.

11. A container adapted to be pivotally supported, said container having aligned holes formed in two opposite sides thereof, a pair of supporting shoulders formed on said container each adjacent respectively one of said holes and spaced therefrom, a pair of upwardly converging guide surfaces formed on and extending outwardly from each of said opposite sides of said container and converging adjacent a respective one of said shoulders, said shoulder means thereby serving the dual function of supportengaging guide and load bearer, the radially inner surface of each of said shoulders being substantially arcuate. 12. A container according to claim 11 further comprising brace members secured to and converging upwardly from adjacent opposite corners of their respective opposite sides, said guide surfaces being formed by the lower sur faces of said brace members, said brace members and shoulders thereby serving to guide a supporting member or members into position in alignment with a respective one of said holes.

13. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said object is a container.

14. The combination as in claim 5 wherein said object is a container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 577,409 Banker Feb. 23, 1897 1,403,023 Fouts Ian. 10, 1922 1,832,523 Berger Nov. 17, 1931 2,622,832 Hilferty Dec. 23, 1952 

